Plug for closing the gullet of a slaughtered animal and device for positioning same

ABSTRACT

The invention lies in the field of slaughtering animals in a slaughterhouse. One of the operations during the slaughtering process is the removal of the head of the animal, whereby the gullet is severed. The invention has for its object to offer provisions which can ensure an effective and rapid closure of the gullet. For this purpose the invention generally provides a plug for closing the gullet of a slaughtered animal from which the head has been removed, which plug is adapted to be inserted into the gullet and has a larger effective diameter than the gullet for closing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention lies in the field of slaughtering animals in aslaughterhouse. One of the operations during the slaughtering process isthe removal of the head of the animal, whereby the gullet is severed.The stomach contents of an animal suspended from the hind legs willhereby move downward through the gullet and could there causebacteriological infection of meat parts, work-floor and followinglocations, such as de-boning tables and conveyor belts.

Hygienic slaughter is mandatory in most countries. The possibilitiesheretofore have however been very limited up to the present. For examplethe gullet can be at least more or less closed off by means of anelastic ring. A drawback of this known method is that it istime-consuming and does not guarantee a reliable closure of the gullet.

From CH-A-436 009 a plug is known, which is designed to be introducedinto the wind pipe of a slaughtered animal. After introducing such priorart plug the wind pipe is sufficiently closed to prevent the entrance ofrinsing water.

The prior art plug consists of a plurality of parts and has therefore arather complicated structure which makes the plug relatively difficultto produce and therefor expensive.

The invention has for its purpose to provide a plug adapted to ensure aneffective and rapid closure of the gullet. It is a further purpose ofthe invention to design a plug in a way such that it can be readilymanufactured at low costs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose the invention generally provides a plug as stated inclaim 1. Claims 2-7 give alternatives.

The use of biodegradable material has the advantage that after theslaughtered animal has been processed the plug no longer has to beremoved. Considered suitable as starch are in principle all normalcommercial starches, for example grain starches based on maize, wheat,rice, barley etc., tuber starches based on potato, tapioca etc., andother starches. The starches can have an increased amylose contentand/or and increased amylopectin content. A starch derivative can beprepared on the basis of chemical, physical and/or biotechnologicaltreatments.

Biodegradable materials, in particular those based on starches orderivatives thereof, display a quite strong moisture-absorbing, forexample hygroscopic character. As a result the plug can be difficult toinsert into the moist gullet as it adheres rapidly to the inner wallthereof. It is therefore advantageous to embody a plug such that themoisture-absorbing, for example hygroscopic, properties are limited atleast on the outer surface, so that in any case insertion can take placewithout difficulty. In this respect a plug of biodegradable material istherefore recommended, the outer surface of which is subjected to atreatment to reduce the moisture-absorbing, for example hygroscopic,properties thereof.

Such a treatment can be based on arranging a coating layer, consistingfor example of a powder, an optionally biodegradable lacquer, glycerineor other suitable material, or on the action of a gas, such as nitrogen,oil, water or another liquid with a suitable temperature.

Given in claims 9-15 are specifications of devices with which a plug canbe inserted into the gullet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be elucidated with reference to the annexeddrawings. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a partially broken away perspective view of a device forinserting a closing cone in a gullet in the phase in which the device isinserted into the gullet;

FIG. 2 shows a view corresponding with FIG. 1 in the phase where theplug is transported by the guide segments in order to be inserted intothe gullet;

FIG. 3 shows partially in schematic side view, partially incross-section an insertion device in the phase where a cone-shaped plugis at the point of moving apart the guide segments;

FIG. 4a shows a longitudinal section through a cone-shaped plug in afirst embodiment;

FIG. 4b shows a top view thereof;

FIG. 5a shows a side view of a variant;

FIG. 5b shows the top view thereof;

FIG. 6 shows a partly broken away perspective view of yet anotherembodiment;

FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an alternative insertion device;

FIGS. 8a, 8b and 8c show in partly broken away perspective view threerespective phases of the closing of a gullet making use of the plugaccording to FIG. 6 and the insertion device according to FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a schematic perspective view in which is shown the mannerof separating the gullet and the surrounding tissue, in particular thewindpipe; and

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of a preferred embodiment of a plug.

In all figures the same components are designated by the same referencenumerals.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a device 1 which is intended for inserting a cone-shapedplug 3 into a gullet 2 for closing thereof. The plug 3 displays agenerally conical shape with a rounded top 4, a conical body 5 and abroad bottom edge 6 with protrusions 7. From a magazine (not drawn)successive cone-shaped plugs 3 are supplied via a feed conduit 8 andcarried into a tube 9 on the underside of which is movable a drive rod10 driven by a pneumatic tool (not drawn).

As FIG. 2 shows, the drive rod 10 can transport upward a plug 3 carriedto the open end of tube 9.

The free end of tube 9 bears four resilient segments 11, which carryhooks 12 on their ends. Due to the tapering form of segments 11 apassing plug 3 presses these segments outward, whereby the segments 11inserted into the gullet 2 come with hooks 12 into engagement with theinner surface of gullet 2, whereby a relative displacement of device 1and gullet 2 is effectively blocked from that moment. This is arequirement in order to ensure that drive rod 10 can position the plug 3in the gullet with some force. In order to obtain the desired closingproperties the bottom edge 6 namely has a larger diameter than gullet 2,which can therefore only receive plug 3 by stretching. FIG. 2 shows thesituation in which plug 3 is about to leave the segments 11 and can betransported further by drive rod 10.

It will be apparent that after passing the end of segments 11 the plug 3is only supported by rod 10, and the hooks 12, which are designated with12' in FIG. 2 in their expanded position, spring back to the positionshown in FIG. 1, with the understanding that, due to the shape and theoutwardly directed force, hooks 12 remain in hooking coaction withgullet 2. The cone-shaped plug 3 can thereby be displaced further by thedrive rod 10.

If it is then desired to remove device 1 with segments 11 and hooks 12from the gullet, this can then be done for example by performing a smallinward directed movement followed by a rearward withdrawal, or byretracting it with force, wherein some damage to the gullet can occur.

FIG. 3 shows a device 13 which comprises a pistol-grip 14 with trigger15 with which the pneumatic tool can be controlled which drives thedrive rod 16.

FIGS. 4a and 4b show the plug 3 in cross-section and top viewrespectively.

FIGS. 5a and 5b show an alternative embodiment of plug 3. This generallycone-shaped plug 17 has a bottom edge different from the plug 3. Theprotrusions are embodied here as six quite sharp radial ribs 18, whileprotrusions 7 of plug 3 are somewhat more gently tapering serrations ofthe bottom edge 6.

In cases where the hooks 12 are not sufficiently capable of fixing thegullet relative to the insertion tool, in an alternative the gullet canfor example be fixed relative to the insertion tool by means of clampsor a clamping ring. A clamping ring can extend for instance round thegullet and secure the gullet wall against the segments situated on theinside.

The insertion tool can also be embodied such that simultaneously withthe insertion of the plug the gullet is separated from the windpipe.

The plugs can be embodied in plastic of a re-usable type. Use can alsobe made of biodegradable materials. Starch can also be employed wherebyan inserted plug will gradually dissolve.

FIG. 6 shows a plug 19, which has the general shape of a beaker taperingtoward the bottom 20. The bottom 20 has a recessed portion 21, thefunction of which will be explained hereinafter. Beaker 19 comprises arotation symmetrical beaker wall 22 consisting of two truncated conicalparts 23 respectively 24 mutually connecting in stepped manner.

FIG. 7 shows an insertion tool 25. This insertion tool 25 comprises asubstantially rigid tube 27 connected via a conduit 26 to a source ofunderpressure. The connection between the flexible conduit 26 and thetube 27 can be effected by means of a hand-operated button 28. Bymanually pressing button 28 the tube 27 is connected to the source andby releasing button 28 the connection is again broken.

The outer diameter of tube 27, at least on its free end 29, is a littlesmaller than the inner diameter of the recess 21 of plug 19 (see FIG.6). By placing the end 29 in the vicinity of the interior of recess 21and by pressing in button 28 a plug 19 can thus be sucked thereon. Theplug 19 can herewith then be inserted into gullet 2 in the manner shownin FIG. 8a. It will be apparent that during this insertion the saidsuction is no longer necessary. The plug 19 can thus be pressed into adesired position in the gullet by exerting a pushing force. The therebyexerted force is however still not sufficient for reliable and hygienicclosure of the gullet.

As shown in FIG. 8b, tube 27 is subsequently shifted back over a shortdistance and the button 28 is operated such that an underpressure iscreated in the interior of plug 19 as a result of which the flexiblewall of the gullet is drawn inward into the interior of thebeaker-shaped plug 19. FIG. 8b shows this situation.

FIG. 8c shows the situation in which tube 27 is then slid out while theunderpressure is maintained. The flexible wall of gullet 2 forms in themanner shown in FIG. 8c an effective closing of the interior of plug 19.A very effective and reliable closure of the gullet is realized due tothe shown form.

FIG. 9 shows the manner in which the gullet 2 can be separated from thesurrounding tissue, for example its connection to the windpipe 30. Theconnection between gullet 2 and windpipe 30 is relatively weak and cantherefore be broken in simple manner. As shown in FIG. 7, the device 25carries for this purpose on its handle 31 a carrier rod 32 which extendsparallel to tube 27 and which in this embodiment forms a continuation ofthe cylindrical handle 31. The free end of this carrier rod 32 bears aseparating element 33 which in the manner indicated by the arrow 34,after rotation of handle 31 and therewith the separating element 33, caneffect the intended separation during axial movement thereof.

At the moment the situation shown in FIG. 8b is reached the tube 27 canbe retracted by the user. The said rotation, for example throughapproximately a quarter turn, can take place prior thereto whereby theseparating element 33 penetrates into the tissue connecting gullet 2 towindpipe 30. During the downward directed movement 35 of handle 31 andtherewith of separating element 33 the connection is broken.

FIG. 10 shows a cross-section of a preferred embodiment. The plug 36 hasa generally rotation symmetrical form of a beaker, the bottom zone 37 ofwhich has a comparatively small diameter wherein the operational end ofthe suction tube 27 fits. A broadened part 38 connects thereto via asmooth transitional zone 39. To the broadened part 38 connects a furtherbroadened part 40 which has on its underside a thickened peripheral edge41 to strengthen the plug 36. The transition of the inner surfaces ofthe parts 38 and 40 takes place via a step 42. On their outer surfacesthese parts interconnect smoothly via a transitional zone 43.

It is noted that the tube 27 can have an enlarged breadth and narrowedactive end. If desired the active end can be provided with one or moreopenings present on the outer surface, which simplifies the creation ofthe desired underpressure in a plug.

We claim:
 1. A plug for closing a tubular member opening at the outsideof a slaughtered animal and adapted to be inserted into the gullet ofthe slaughtered animal from which the head has been removed, the plugcomprising:a plug body comprising a biodegradable material having anouter surface and a bottom, with the outer surface being lesshygroscopic than a remainder of the plug body; wherein the plug has thegeneral shape of a beaker such that the plug can be inserted into thegullet with the bottom of the plug positioned toward a front of thegullet, wherein the plug co-acts with a gullet wall for closure, whereinthe plug has at least two parts with different inner diameters, andwherein inner surfaces of the at least two parts mutually connect via astep.
 2. The plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least two partshave different outer diameters and wherein outer surfaces of the atleast two parts join together smoothly.
 3. A plug for closing a tubularmember opening at the outside of a slaughtered animal and adapted to beinserted into the gullet of the slaughtered animal from which the headhas been removed, comprising:a plug body; and a bottom, wherein the plughas the general shape of a beaker such that the plug can be insertedinto the gullet with said bottom of the plug positioned toward a frontof the gullet, wherein the plug co-acts with a gullet wall for closure,wherein the plug has at least two parts with differing internaldiameters, wherein inner surfaces of the at least two parts mutuallyconnect via a step, and wherein the plug includes a peripheral edgehaving protrusions which prevent a movement of the plug toward theopening of the gullet.
 4. The plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein theplug is expandable.
 5. The plug as claimed in claim 1, wherein thematerial is suitable for use in animal feed and/or human feed.
 6. Theplug as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material is amaterial selected from the group consisting of starch, a starchderivative and a biodegradable polymer.
 7. The plug as claimed in claim6, wherein the outer surface of the plug comprises a coating layer of amaterial which is less water absorbent than the material of the plugbody.
 8. A plug for closing a gullet opening of a slaughtered animalfrom which the head has been removed, comprising:a hollow plug body of abiodegradable material; and at least one protrusion extending from theplug body, wherein the at least one protrusion co-acts with a wall ofthe gullet to prevent movement of the plug toward the gullet opening.